On 4 and 5 November 2025, Lille hosted the second edition of the European Sport Congress (EUSC) — and it proved once again why this event is becoming an essential gathering for sport professionals across Europe.
Co-organised with French sport organisation 135BPM and powered by Sport Innovation Hub and Sport Academy, the congress brought together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and Erasmus+ project holders for two packed days of knowledge-sharing at Le 1894.
Innovation Is No Longer Optional
One of the clearest messages from the congress came from Sport Vlaanderen’s Tommy Maenhaut and Brecht De Vos: innovation is a necessity, not a luxury — even for public agencies operating on tight budgets. Their ‘Matchmaking’ project, which aims to digitally connect sport supply and demand at scale, highlighted a gap that professionals across the sector will recognise immediately. Decathlon’s Head of Innovation Excellence, Matthieu Cesano, reinforced this with a practitioner-level look at how innovation can be embedded at every stage of an organisation’s workflow.
Inclusion Remains Central to the EU Sport Agenda
The Council of Europe’s Kateryna Lavryk presented the latest outcomes of the Sport For All initiative, a joint EU-Council of Europe project promoting access to sport for people with disabilities. The session was a reminder that inclusion is not a side topic — it is a core pillar of EU sport policy, and one that sport professionals at every level have a role in advancing.
Ricardo Carvalho of Social Innovation Sports led a lab session on using sport as a tool for social integration, drawing on programmes working with migrants and refugees. Demand for the session was high enough that it ran twice — a sign of just how relevant these approaches are right now.
Athletes Need Support Beyond Competition
Day two turned attention to the human side of sport careers. Dr. Hee Jung Hong of the University of Stirling explored dual career structures and mentoring practices for athletes in European sport schools, while Dr. Alina Gherghisan of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee led a lab on holistic athlete development — from first contact with sport through to life after competition.
Prof. Sergio Lara-Bercial’s keynote on ICOACHKIDS offered a compelling model for what child-centred coaching looks like in practice, and how an Erasmus+ project can grow into a global movement when the foundations are right.
A Space to Learn, Share, and Connect
What makes EUSC different from a standard conference is its mix of formats — keynotes, labs, and project communications running in parallel — and the quality of the network it draws together. For anyone working in sport education, governance, or innovation, it offers a rare chance to see what colleagues across Europe are building and to bring those insights back home.
Sport Academy is a powering partner of the European Sport Congress. Explore our courses in Sport Governance, Innovation, and Inclusion at sportacademy.com.
Proyecto cofinanciado por el Ayuntamiento de Gijón/Xixón a través de Gijón Impulsa en el marco de la convocatoria de subvenciones Diversificación de Mercados 2026.
